Fort William Redskins (1958)
Fort William Redskins (1958) was an intermediate football team from Fort William that won the Canadian championship in 1958. The team was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1983.[1]
Overview
- Sport: Football
- League or level: Intermediate
- Season: 1958
- Achievement: Canada Champions
- Inducted: 1 October 1983[1]
Season
The Fort William Redskins secured a historic victory on November 23, 1958, at McKellar Park in Fort William. Playing on a field covered in snow, the team shut out the St. Francis Xavier Saints with a final score of 10-0. This win earned them the Canadian Intermediate Football title, marking the first and only time a club from Northwestern Ontario has achieved a national championship in the sport.[1]
The Fort William Redskins Football Club maintained a high level of success throughout its twenty-year existence between 1946 and 1966. During this period, the organization captured 14 local titles and five Western Canadian championships in addition to their 1958 national crown. The team was led during their championship season by coach Jack James.[1]
Roster
The names below come from the Hall of Fame profile and its team photograph caption.[1]
| Name | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jake Burnett | player | |
| Joe Baratta | player | |
| Jack McDonald | player | |
| Mike McMahon | player | |
| Albert Davey | player | |
| Ab Filipovic | player | |
| Harvey Littleford | player | |
| Ed Kruppa | player | |
| Frank Dupius | player | |
| Ray Antoniak | player | |
| Jack James | coach | |
| Harold Harri | player | |
| Murray McKenzie | player | |
| Doug Hogan | player | |
| Ernie Dupius | player | |
| Al Smith | player | |
| George Durica | player | |
| Rudy Hulina | player | |
| Hugh Loney | player | |
| Sherry Wishart | player | |
| Ed Whatley | player | |
| Bruce Cameron | player | |
| Buster Powers | player | |
| Tom Fronais | player | |
| Leo Franchi | player | |
| Mike Herbert | player | |
| Bruno Grobelny | player | |
| Larry Lychowyd | player | |
| Bob Mitchelson | player | |
| Bob Loney | player | |
| George Zanutto | player | |
| Pat Croome | player | |
| Paul Sabourin | player | |
| Archie Langston | player | |
| Ron Fitzmaurice | player | |
| Dan Mosa | player | |
| Jack Prout | player | |
| Armand Antoniak | player | |
| Leno Brescacin | player | |
| Rob Cameron | player | |
| Peter Commisso | player | |
| Robert Croome | other | |
| Cal Duthie | player | |
| Brian Hadath | player | |
| Rob McCormack | player | |
| Oren Safir | other | |
| Dick Seagris | player |
Honours and achievements
- 1958 Canadian Intermediate football champions
- First and only Northwestern Ontario team to win a national football title
- Defeated St. Francis Xavier Saints 10-0 in the national final
- Part of a franchise history that included 14 local and 5 Western Canadian titles[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Fort William Redskins Intermediate Football", team profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/team-profile/7f857dca-81aa-4c94-ae53-aae16940ab3d (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.